Controversy over sexually explicit book in Scottsdale school library

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (KSAZ) - Controversy is brewing over a racy, sexually explicit book on the shelves of a school library in the Scottsdale Unified School District. Now, a parent who's young daughter checked it out wants it removed, saying it doesn't belong in the school.

According to the American Library Association, the book "l8r, g8r", along with "ttyl" and "ttfn", all written by Lauren Myracle, was number one on its list of top ten most challenged books in 2009 and 2011, due to reasons including offensive language and sexually explicit content.

Many of the contents in the book are explicit, and the mother said she couldn't believe what she read, when she opened it.

"It's three girls that are texting each other. The format of the book is them text messaging and them talking about stuff," said the mother, who is only identified as "Elle". "The explicit sexual content in it and detail in it, it's pornographic basically. It really is the things they talk about. I was angry. I was like, 'you're kidding me'. This is what they're exposing our kids to, and you think the library is going to be a safe place for your child to go check out a book."

Elle said her 11-year-old daughter, a 6th Grader at Mohave Middle School, checked the book out about two weeks ago. The reportedly sexually explicit text talks about ways to use social media to get more sexual partners, when to and when not to use contraceptives, among other matters.

The book is stamped May of 2015, so it could have been on the school's shelves for two years. Elle is now encouraging other parents to look at the books that are being brought home.

"Just really over the top and not sexually educational at all," said Elle. "Like, it could actually get our kids in big trouble, being promiscuous and trying to do these types of things."

Elle said the school's principal talked with her husband about two weeks ago and apologized, but they haven't had a follow up to see if their request to remove the book from the district has been met.

Erin Helm, Public Information & Marketing Officer with Scottsdale Unified School District, sent an e-mail to the FOX 10 Phoenix newsroom late Wednesday afternoon, saying the school is aware of the situation, and that the book has been pulled from the library. If the book is found in any other SUSD middle school libraries, it will be pulled from those libraries as well.